How to become an Automotive Technician

How to become an Automotive Technician:

So you want to learn how to become an Automotive Technician and turn wrenches like the pros ? Well you have come to the right place. We are going to take a look at what it takes to become an Automotive Technician. As well as some awesome insider tips and tricks of the industry that can help you get noticed/hired.

Becoming an Automotive Technician is a lot of fun. But, it can also be a pain in the ass if you do not know where to begin.

Before you begin there are a few things that you need to determine. These are a few questions that will help you determine the best direction for you to go.

Are you trying to do this as a hobby or profession?

How much time do you have to dedicate to learning a new trade?

Do you love cars enough to work on them almost every day of the week?

Education and Hands-On Experience:

If you want to learn how to become an Automotive Technician then you must make sure you are dedicated to go out and gain all the education and training that you are going to need. Hands on training will always be the best when it comes to trade work, but I cannot stress how important it is to learn and educate yourself on automotive theory and technology.

If you do not stay up to date on training and education then it can become really easy to lose your diagnostic/technical edge and end up turning into a parts changer, and nobody wants to do that.

When I first got started in the industry and decided it was something that I would enjoy then I decided to go to school for it and I got my 2 year Associate’s degree in Automotive Technology at a great local technical school. I was also working in a dinky little Sear’s auto center where I was learning the basics such as oil changes, tires, brakes etc.

I feel like I had an advantage by working in a shop at the same time as I was going to school, and it seemed to help me learn and retain the information from my schooling better than my classmates who were all working part time at places like Taco Bell or not working at all, and then they somehow expected to nail a job in a good shop right out of college. Unfortunately for them they learned the hard way that things do not always work out that smoothly.

Not a lot of employers will be excited to hire a Technician with no shop experience, and when they do it is usually so they have a new local bitch boy to take care of all the grunt work. Most new Techs will have to face this at one point or another, some shops will be tougher than others, it just depends who runs the place.

Here is where you can get started:

The best thing to do is reach out to local shops and find someone who is hiring for a starting/basic position. At most shops this will mean being the lube/tire tech, which is normal at first. For now, all you want to do is get your foot in the door so that you can gain experience and time in a shop. It can take awhile to find somewhere that you are comfortable staying. In the current state of the automotive industry it can be hard to find a stable shop. Which is a big reason why you see Technicians bouncing from shop to shop. Good thing tool boxes come with wheels right?

Never settle for a place where you feel that they are mistreating you, or where they do not respect your knowledge and abilities. A good Technician is one of the core foundations in all aspects of the Automotive industry. Without us there would not be cars on the road, period. Remember that. Never continue to give time to someone who is unappreciative. There are ALWAYS new shops hiring, but you can NEVER get back the time you have lost. So choose wisely and you will avoid a lot of common mistakes. A good place to start your search will be Indeed. They always have the most up to date job listings.

Be prepared to drop a lot of money on tools and tool storage

Hit the Road to Mastery:

Do your best, and always strive to be better. Always shoot for the top, but remember to stay humble on the climb up. Never say you know it all, as that is when you will truly stop learning. This industry is always growing and always moving. As long as you can keep up with the flow then you will do great!

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2 Comments

Your website is awesome!! I am no mechanic but your page on brakes helps a lot. Do you have a preference on the type of brake pads to use? I would like to hear your opinion. The way you simplify things are awesome. Also, I loved the article on Tesla going to Mars. Very interesting!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.